&lt;b&gt;Socioeconomic profile of children hospitalized by community acquired pneumonia&lt;/b&gt; - doi: 10.4025/actascihealthsci.v35i2.18746

Thaisa Mara Bersani Strabelli,Cristiane Mazzutti,Luna Pereira Freitas,Adriana Bridi,Marco Aurélio Maciel,Clarissa De Albuquerque Botura

doi:10.4025/actascihealthsci.v35i2.18746

Abstract

Acute respiratory infections are frequent and are the leading cause of infant morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to verify the socioeconomic profile of children hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia. We realized a prospective study where social data were collected by direct interview conducted with parents and guardians and supplemented by information from medical records of children under five years of age hospitalized in wards at Hospital Infantil Pequeno Príncipe in the city of Curitiba. All children had clinical and radiological diagnosis of pneumonia. Twenty-two children were included in the study so. Eighteen children (82%) had family incomes below three minimum wages. In 36% (n = 8) of cases the mother worked outside the home. Living with household smokers was also observed in 36% of cases. Elementary education was found in 82% of mothers. Seventeen children (77%) were breastfed for less than six months. Nine children attended day care. Less than 14% (n = 3) of the children were daughters of teenage mothers. This study underscored the importance of socioeconomic factors on the morbidity of community pneumonia in childhood, being family income, maternal education and early weaning the factors most frequently rated among the internees.

Highlights

Acute respiratory infections (ARI) are relatively frequent and are the leading cause of infant morbidity and mortality, especially in developing countries
Children living in urban areas suffer 4.2 to 7.9 attacks year-1, while those living in urban areas suffer 1.0 to 3.0 attacks year-1 (NIOBEY et al, 1992)
Given the great importance of respiratory infections in infants and its impact in public health, this study aimed to verify socioeconomic factors of children under five years of age hospitalized for community acquired pneumonia

Summary

Introduction

Acute respiratory infections (ARI) are relatively frequent and are the leading cause of infant morbidity and mortality, especially in developing countries. Children living in urban areas suffer 4.2 to 7.9 attacks year-1, while those living in urban areas suffer 1.0 to 3.0 attacks year-1 (NIOBEY et al, 1992). In developed and developing countries, the overall incidence of ARI relative to pneumonia shows several differences as for frequency and severity In developed countries 2% of children with ARI aged zero to five years are hospitalized, whereas in developing countries, this index reaches 10 to 20% (CAETANO et al, 2002). Five million children under the age of five years die each year from respiratory infections, 70% due to pneumonia.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion